Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the amendment. It is important that groups such as the people mentioned by the Deputy are included. The fuel allowance scheme is very important for families on low incomes but it is narrow enough in terms of the definitions and who gets it. In our alternative budget, Sinn Féin proposed extending by two weeks the period in which the fuel allowance is paid, but also broadening the eligibility bands.

I know it is not dealt with in the Bill, but perhaps in future years a discretionary fund could be set up through the community welfare officer system such that a payment would be made to help people who have very high costs. There should be some kind of discretionary fund to assist people. That has been put forward by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. It could be administered through the community welfare officers. It is something the Department should seriously consider.

The fuel allowance scheme is welcome and it is always good that it is there to help people at that crucial time. God knows, bills are sky high this year. The measures are necessary, given the scale of the crisis we are facing, with unprecedented increases. Households are facing the highest increases in my lifetime. On average, fuel bills have gone up by 28% or 30% in the past 12 months. That adds an extra €450 or €500 this winter for using a similar amount of energy to last year. The increase in carbon tax has added to that cost, although I know the Government would say it does not add to it significantly. This issue needs to be factored into future budgeting. In the area in which I live, a bale of briquettes was €3.50 a short time ago. One shop is now charging €6.70 per bale. That is a significant increase. The increase in carbon tax alone put an extra 20 cent on a bale of briquettes. A bag of coal increased by 89 cent. The increase in the carbon tax alone has added €20 to the cost of the average refill of home heating oil. I point that out to bring home the significant cost coming onto families. It is placing enormous pressure on families who are struggling.

As the Minister is aware, in rural areas it is different from urban areas. There is no piped gas. Laois-Offaly, for example, has the highest number of homes that are dependent on solid fuel. Let us be fair about it. Those houses will not be retrofitted. There will not be a significant number of them retrofitted this year or next year. It will take time to get through all of that. We cannot have people freezing with the cold in the interim. The charity ALONE has estimated that there are in the region of 3,000 deaths directly or indirectly related to fuel poverty each year. That is one of the highest rates in Europe. Almost 400,000 people experience some level of fuel deprivation in the State each year.

The Government announced the payment of €100 to offset the increase in energy bills. Any such payment is welcome but I ask the Minister to try to fast-forward that payment. It would have been great to see it coming before Christmas or very soon thereafter. My understanding - the Minister can correct me if I am wrong - is that the payment may not come until late March. I am not sure whether that is the case. I ask the Minister to clarify that. The payment is welcome.

The fuel allowance scheme requires changes and fine tuning. The issue raised by Deputy Naughten in respect of those on half-rate carer's allowance in circumstances where a spouse is on a contributory pension is one that needs to be addressed. There is also a need to consider part-time workers and low-paid workers. Some of those households are among the poorest in the State. Deputy Kerrane's office carried out an online survey for Sinn Féin recently. The response from full-time workers, not to mention part-time workers, showed that a significant number of workers are experiencing poverty. That is a reality we must face. Bills have gone up and wages are not keeping pace with them.

As we move forward, we should keep such matters under review while trying to ensure as many people as possible are assisted under the fuel scheme each year.

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